Fiscal plan: LDA budget approved

Rs80 billion earmarked for development schemes

LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) governing body on Thursday approved Rs93.48 annual budget of the LDA and its subordinate agencies – the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) and the Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning Agency (TEPA).

Governing body member Khwaja Ahmad Hassaan chaired the budget session, attended by MPAs Baoo Muhammad Akhtar from Lahore and Rana Muhammad Arshad from Nankana Sahib, LDA Director General Nabeel Javed, WASA Managing Director Naseer Ahmad, TEPA Chief Engineer Saifur Rehman, Chief Metropolitan Planner Waheed Ahmad Butt and LDA Finance Director Zaheer Asghar Rana.

Resources of the LDA, the WASA and the TEPA have been estimated at Rs93.48 billion. Of this, Rs80 billion has been earmarked for development works in Lahore, Sheikupura, Nankan Sahib and Kasur.

LDA (Urban Development Wing)

Resources available to the LDA (UD Wing) during 2016-17 have been estimated at Rs71.86 billion. Development expenditures of Rs68 billion are planned.

Rs56.1 billion is to be provided by the provincial government, for executing various development projects under the Annual Development Programme and deposit works notably the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train project.

Rs5.82 billion has been allocated for development activities in LDA housing schemes. This includes Rs1.52 billion for LDA Avenue-I; Rs350 million for the construction of roads, water supply and sewerage lines in the Finance and Trade Centre, Johar Town; Rs350 million for LDA City; and Rs3.5 billion for development projects in various LDA housing schemes. The projects include construction of an underpass at the railway crossing near Gurumangat Road, Gulberg; remodelling of junctions and U-turns at Maulana Shaukat Ali Road; Khayaban-i-Firdousi; and Khyban-i-Jinnah.

Rs449 million will be spent on the construction of LDA office buildings in Johar Town and Sheikupura and official residences for employees. Rs30 million will be spent on the construction of a pedestrian bridge in front of Girls College, Gujjarpura.

Rs3.63 billion has been allocated for new projects in Lahore. These include Rs2.28 billion for the construction of Defence Road Flyover, Sharaqpur Bypass, Southern Bypass and Kala Shah Kaku Expressway.

A sum of Rs3.72 billion has been allocated for the widening of Canal Bank Road and construction of Chobucha Underpass.  Rs400 million will be spent on the  construction of an underpasses on Sheikhupura-Gujranwala Road and Sheikhupura-Hafizabad Road, Sheikhupura. A hockey stadium will be built in Nanakana Sahib at a cost of Rs500 million.

Rs3.37 billion has been allocated for the Orange Line Metro Train project, allied works and security services.

Widening and improvement of Bedian Road, Burki Road and adjoining roads will cost Rs5.84 billion. Remodelling of junctions along Multan Road from Chauburji to Multan Chungi will be carried out at a cost of Rs5.12 billion.

A hockey stadium will be constructed in Sheikupura at a cost of Rs240 million.

WASA

The agency excepts receipts of Rs18.77 billion during 2016-17. It will spend Rs18.84 billion, including Rs9.81 billion, on development schemes. Rs5.49 billion has been reserved for ongoing development schemes.

TEPA

The agency will have Rs2.855 billion at its disposal; its expenditures have been estimated at Rs2.54 billion, including Rs2.19 billion for development schemes.

Rs134 million will be spent on the construction of Kasur Sports Complex. Rs745 million has been allocated for the construction of a flyover at Kacha Jail Road.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 15^th, 2016.